Total Pageviews

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me, nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayers, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

- Luke 22:39-51

It is Holy Week in Luke's Gospel and Jesus is in Jerusalem. We've read about the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist, in which Jesus taught, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Jesus has taught them about what it is to be great in His kingdom, saying, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who
exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among
you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves." In yesterday's reading, Jesus spoke directly to Simon Peter. And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your
faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your
brethren." But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both
to prison and to death." Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster
shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know
Me." And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and
sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." Then He said
to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and
likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment
and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be
accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For
the things concerning Me have an end." So they said, "Lord, look, here
are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and
His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to
them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." My study bible tells us that "one of the fundamental purposes of prayer is to strengthen us against temptation in terms of inner sin and outward trials."

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down
and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from
Me, nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." My study bible says, "Jesus exemplifies what He taught in the Lord's Prayer -- 'Your will be done' (Luke 11:2)"

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being
in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great
drops of blood falling down to the ground. A note says, "These details, reported only by Luke, indicate the human agony of Jesus and the divine help given to Him as He contemplates His Crucifixion."

When He rose up from prayers, and had come to His disciples, He found
them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?
Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation." The Gospel teaches us its insight into psychology when it tells us that the disciples were sleeping from sorrow. (Many a depressed person can tell of what it is to sleep to escape sorrow.) But Jesus tells them something that makes their sleep an important analogy for us: to be truly spiritually awake is to be aware of our own needs for prayer. Rather than "sleeping from sorrow," in a time of trial prayer becomes the greatest weapon for strength and courage, and for help with insight and awareness about our choices.

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus
to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son
of Man with a kiss?" Here is the betrayal. My study bible cites Proverbs 27:6 -- "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." About Jesus' title, it says: "Son of Man is an expression that Jesus used for Himself which could mean (1) simply 'man' -- that is, 'me' -- or (2) the heavenly figure of Daniel 7:13, a title which both revealed and veiled Jesus' messianic identity."

When those around Him saw what was going to
happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And
one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right
ear. But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched
his ear and healed him. A note says that permit even this means to permit the arrest and let events take their course in fulfillment of God's will.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the
elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber,
with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did
not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of
darkness." My study bible points out that Luke reports only the Jewish participants of the arresting party, whereas John reveals a contingent of Roman soldiers was involved as well. The important thing here to note again is Jesus' words. He doesn't permit the physical injury from the sword used by one of His disciples, but Jesus is armed with His word, and the truth it tells us. He makes His own accusation: "When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me." He taught before all the public, at the time of the Passover Week, and they did not dare take Him for fear of the people. In the darkness, to be taken to an illegal night trial, that is their hour, and the power of darkness.

Darkness here implies so many things. It is literally dark; all that is happening here happens this night just after the Last Supper. Jesus has been awaiting this moment with prayer and in great agony. Through all things He finds the Father's will. But the power of darkness is also the power of evil and it contains many characteristics here. First of all we must note that it is cowardly. Jesus points out that He taught in the daytime, every day in the temple, before everybody -- both to the public and officials of the temple, as well as His followers and disciples -- and they didn't even "stretch out their hands on Him" (as the Greek reads). They didn't dare, for fear of the people, Luke's Gospel has told us. But now, here, the betrayal comes -- and from one of His own. There is cowardice here all around, and dirty dealing, and they are on their way to the violation of their own law, in a night court. Darkness also implies of course the evil involved, that place where the light doesn't get in, and the "darkness" that "comprehended it not." In this sense is the profound truth of this hour of darkness that is their hour, because they are committed to doing something evil. On all levels this is a wrong action: by the convention of their own law, including lawful testimony and procedure. But the depth of faith and the revelation of Christ make it a deeper darkness, a more profound evil. Not only do the people consider Jesus a holy man at a time of great turmoil in Israel, but He's also a peaceful man. He hasn't done anything by law that allows them to do what they are about to do: not by the law of the Romans (and Pilate will say he finds nothing wrong with Him), nor by the laws of Israel. But darkness will take its toll. And there we come to the cross. What does it really mean to come to that cross? Jesus has taught the disciples about prayer in today's reading. When we're in times of great trial by something evil, some form of darkness, our best weapon is prayer. It's hard to make decisions for God without prayer. When temptation hits -- to do the easy thing, to go along with something not quite right, to sweep things under the rug that need to be told or stood up for -- that's the time when prayer is most needed, most necessary. We might find ourselves feeling utterly alone in that time, and it is prayer that is most necessary for our strength; in our reading today, Jesus is comforted by an angel, and so might we well be even if we don't know it. Prayer calls us into communion with that which offers strength for the Way, His way. Jesus' impossible task here, the choice for crucifixion, falls into this place of agony in His struggle so that we, too, might understand what that choice might mean in our own lives. For Jesus, it is stark. For the rest of us, it may feel just like that although pales in comparison to His choice. Remember those times of great trial, of agony, when you make a difficult decision. Prayer is the one thing He emphasizes, and the example of His desire to please the Father. You may find yourself in such situations. But His mission into the world is for just that, to be the light that shines in the darkness. When you feel great trouble, remember His words and His choice. Suffering has its role to play in the times when we stand for something God calls us to do. Find your strength with Him, in prayer. Jesus' words, "Permit even this," tell us something about acceptance of the things we can't change. Let us remember what real acceptance is, and the light that leads us to that place -- and through it.

Friday, June 28, 2013

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

- Luke 22:31-38

In the Gospel of Luke, we are in Holy Week. Jesus is speaking at the Last Supper, the Passover meal. He has initiated the Eucharist, telling the disciples, "Do this in remembrance of Me." In yesterday's reading, Luke tells us that there was also a dispute among the disciples, as to which of them should be
considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority
over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the
contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the
table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am
among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued
with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My
Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in
My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your
faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your
brethren." But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both
to prison and to death." Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster
shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know
Me." My study bible tells us that "Jesus sees Simon Peter's denial as a violent attack by Satan, which Peter endures through Jesus' intercessory prayer. After his tearful repentance and the experience of the Resurrection, Peter indeed returned to Christ and was able to strengthen the early Church as one of its leaders." Here again we're also given an example of Jesus' acute prescience, right down to the details, something we've been given already in Luke's Gospel twice during this week in Jerusalem (see here and here, events in which apostles were sent to make preparations for important events, and given detailed instructions on what was to happen). Here His prescience is used again in a "preparation" for an apostle, only this time it is as a warning to Peter.

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and
sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." Then He said
to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and
likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment
and buy one." Again, we read into these verses a theme of preparation for His apostles. My study bible notes: "In view of the coming death of Christ and the persecutions against the disciples, Jesus instructs them to be ready for anything. The sword suggests resistance against the evil one (Eph. 6:17)."

For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished
in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things
concerning Me have an end." A note tells us that "the transgressors were the two criminals crucified with Jesus. Have an end means come to fulfillment."

So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." A note reads: "It is enough does not signify approval. The expression, according to most interpreters, is either ironical -- two swords would hardly suffice as a means of defense -- or an abrupt censure by Jesus, meaning, "Enough of this!"

A kind of irony pervades today's reading. Jesus tells Peter quite literally what is to come in his temptations, and alludes to the work of the adversary, the evil one, Satan, in Peter's stumbling. Preparing the disciples as a whole, Jesus gives them a warning also about what is to come: let them be prepared. In vivid images, He tells them about the change in circumstances. But in both cases, the responses of the apostles show they get it all wrong, somehow. They don't quite know what He's talking about yet. Peter swears his allegiance, and the impossibility that his faith should fail at all. The disciples search literally for weapons, and find two -- but they've missed the full point of the warning. They've missed the understanding of the times to come to which Jesus was alluding. And so the Gospels go, giving us a picture of ourselves in the humanity of the apostles, in their perceptions which are limited, in the fullness of Christ's vision and His words and teachings. He's preparing them for the times ahead, when His mission, and theirs, will face adversity and hardship and the devastation of the Cross, and Jesus "being numbered among the transgressors." We can't really ponder this ministry, nor our own life in the world, without understanding this adversity -- the fact of this adversity. It's very important that we not simply see failure in circumstances that may be complex, like the world, and in a setting where spiritual struggle goes on all the time. Peter will battle with his own cowardice, the apostles will be scattered and later persecuted, and there will be the Cross: an unjust trial and suffering and death, with Jesus "numbered among the transgressors." What we should be prepared for, therefore, is that everything in life is not going to go our way just because of our faith. Indeed, what Christ promises is that because of our faith we may in fact experience adversity: temptations to lack of faith in ourselves, and other forms of obstacles in our paths. To face spiritual struggle and difficulty becomes a part of the life that we expect. In this context, we're not to be defeated by setbacks, by our own failures, and particularly by circumstances that look hostile and menacing or difficult. I think there are times when all of us can respond to Peter's struggle and temptation. There are times when adversity just doesn't seem to let up, when we'll question every single decision we've made in faith because of difficulties we'll go through. We may second-guess all our choices. There always seem to be more practical considerations than where our faith may take us. Everybody in the world doesn't always want to honor what's righteous or just, or what takes moral courage to choose over other considerations of material gain or a simpler or easier life. Love isn't always welcome, and neither is truth. Innocence may indeed be just that narrow gate in the middle of a wide and broad field. It's those times when we have to understand that adversity is a part of our world, a part of spiritual struggle: both within ourselves and in our lives. Why the Cross? we might ask. But the Cross teaches us about our lives in the world, that we stand up for something, that we want to bring something into the world, and that our Teacher gave us the great example so that we learn from Him. We may face obstacles, misunderstandings, our own failures. Our difficulties or defeats, and our Resurrections in faith, may not be so dramatic as our Master's, but He has set the example. He has shown us the Way. He has warned us about the struggle and our need for watchfulness. Let us remember that it is this struggle, lived very fully and with as much awareness as we can bring to it, that makes us fully alive and truly engaging in our lives, making the best decisions we can, and bringing something into the world that makes a difference. What do you choose to bring to the world in His name?

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

- Luke 22:24-30

In recent readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem. It is Holy Week. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple,
and faced the challenges of the leadership. He has also returned a
few challenges of His own. He speaks to the leadership, His disciples,
and also the public. (See readings from last Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). In Friday's reading, Jesus began to speak about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, and how they are to endure what is to come, and on Saturday we read His teachings on both the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, when He will return. In Monday's reading, Jesus taught how we are to await His return. In Tuesday's reading, we read of the plotting of the leadership to take Him, and of preparations for the Passover, which we know as the Last Supper. In yesterday's reading, we were told that when the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer
eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then He took
the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among
yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God comes." And He took bread, gave thanks and
broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given
for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup
after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which
is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the
table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined; but woe
to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among
themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. My study bible tells us that "in view of Jesus' willingness to die for the world, the concern of the disciples over who among them is the greatest is reprehensibly small-minded." Perhaps their concern stems from the fact that Jesus has just spoken of the coming of the Kingdom and its fulfillment, and they've misunderstood His meaning. Whatever the cause, they are vying for position among themselves.

And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over
them, and those who exercise authority over them are called
benefactors." My study bible says, "Some kings called themselves benefactors, a title which is not without irony considering their tyrannical rule." The Greek word for benefactor can also be translated as "do-gooder" or "doer of good works."

"But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let
him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is
greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who
sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." A note says that "Jesus Himself is the supreme example of His teaching that greatness consists in humble service to others." In all ways, they (and we) are to look to our Teacher as the supreme example of what it is to truly be His follower.

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." My study bible says, "Jesus is not speaking of two different kingdoms but of one kingdom which will be fully revealed at His glorious return. then, the disciples will sit on thrones occupying honorary positions as reward for sharing Christ's trials."

We often hear about what humility means, but Jesus' position here regarding His disciples goes much further to illustrate exactly what He means than most of us can picture easily. When we think of leadership, we think of authority, the ability to be in charge. But Christ's kind of service goes further than a simple understanding of what leadership means. It extends much deeper into our own considerations of what authority means, what it is to "lord it over" others. Humility comes first as a state of mind and state of the heart; it is an inward intention to please God, a willingness to "step down" from worldly considerations of power into a completely different idea of where power comes from and what it means. Jesus' life serves us as an interpretation of His words here. He did not rule a kingdom in the worldly sense. He did not take profits for Himself, He did not take a position in a conventional sense of rule. He didn't make extravagant public works to call Himself a "benefactor" either! In all ways, Jesus lived His life in consideration of one thing: what pleased the Father. In this sense, He was willing to submit His entire life to this purpose, and every element of His life. This is an inward state of humility. It's an attitude about what matters most. In this perspective, our conventional understanding of what gives us authority is stood on its head: notions of "who is greatest" don't apply. Rather, what Christ tells us is that it is those who've "continued with Him" in His trials who will receive this Kingdom, and will sit on thrones as Judges. (We look to the history of Israel and its Judges to begin to think about what this means, and add to it Jesus' implications of cosmic rule.) Christ isn't speaking here of a life lived with fanfare or the capacity to lord it over others, but one in which we may face many trials, go through suffering, and be "on the outs" with others, if this is where God's love takes us. But this quality of service, our imitation of Christ, is available to each of us, because it begins in the heart. It is borne of an understanding that nothing comes before pleasing God, not any worldly consideration of rank, hierarchy, authority. God's love is about upholding the values of true relatedness, righteousness and justice, through all things. Like Christ's great suffering, and His sacrifice, these things may seem to make no sense when we are in the middle of them. But His honor isn't the same as worldly honor, and that remains a permanent challenge to each of us to fathom for ourselves -- especially when we go through times of trial ourselves.

It's also worthy to mention some of the implications of the language here in today's reading for us to consider. To serve (Gr. diakonon) is our root for "deacon" and it is a word that implies serving at table. In yesterday's reading, Jesus introduced the Eucharist, encouraging all to "take" and distribute. In this context, to lead is to be one who serves and distributes this Eucharistic meal to others, and this should be considered in all its broad senses of offering Christ to the world. We remember that it was St. Peter who was told to "Feed my lambs." We also look at the language for "let him be as the younger." The word "be" here is more like "to become." The one who is greatest is the one who can become the younger. Our ordinary understanding of growth, therefore, is reversed by Christ in this image of "becoming the younger." (We recall that He taught we must receive the kingdom of God as a little child.) Service is therefore implied in all ways, including the energy we have for serving at this table. How do you offer Christ to the world?

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

- Luke 22:14-23

At this point in Luke's Gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple, and faced the challenges of the leadership. He has also returned a few challenges of His own. He speaks to the leadership, His disciples, and also the public. (See readings from last Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). In Friday's reading, Jesus began to speak about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, and how they are to endure what is to come, and on Saturday we read His teachings on both the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, when He will return. In Monday's reading, Jesus taught how we are to await His return. Yesterday's reading told us that in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him. Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' Then he will show you a large furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." My study bible says, "The Passover signifies deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt. Now Jesus, with fervent desire, anticipates the great deliverance of humanity from the power of sin, which will be accomplished through His saving death, establishing the New Covenant. The Passover meal is the Last Supper, continued in the Eucharist of the Church, which is to be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." My study bible tells us that "Luke reports the partaking of two cups (vv. 17, 20). Several cups were offered during the Passover meal."

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." My study bible tells us that "Christ is the Lamb of God who gives Himself as a sacrifice on the Cross for the salvation of the world. Remembrance in its biblical significance is a reliving of the original event. We do this through the sacred act of the Eucharist."

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. My study bible tells us, "With these words Jesus looks ahead to His arrest and suffering."

Let us look at many of the elements in today's reading. First, Jesus speaks of His fervent desire to partake of the Passover with the disciples. His fervent desire may reflect His desire to complete His mission, to do what He must for the Kingdom to manifest itself in the world. But in the following verse, He shares this "fervent desire" with the others. In the words, "Take this and divide it among yourselves" Jesus invites us also to fervent desire; we're not just offered this cup, we're commanded to "take" and "divide" -- this is a very active kind of thing we're commanded to do. It's like we're to seize what He is giving, we're invited to action, almost a sort of violent action. We're reminded of His words in Matthew's Gospel, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Our fervent desire for this kingdom must also be acted upon; but the seizure and partaking here is of what He offers -- Himself! Breaking the bread Himself, He offers His broken body -- broken and divided for us, so that we may partake -- saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Remembrance is essential as a component to our "taking and dividing." We remember His life by repeating His life in ours, reliving what is here, reliving His living ministry upon the earth. Ironically, to "re-member" invites us to the wholeness of His Body, in the many "members" that we are, even as He breaks the bread and distributes it. Finally, there is paradox: both covenant and betrayal. "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table." For what is His body broken, for what is His blood shed? It is for covenant with us; we are offered this stark choice here, of paradox: which will it be? And there is Judgment present too: we are all free to do what we choose to do, but "woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Let's take a look at the word "betrayed." In the Greek, it's like the opposite of what He teaches them to do; they're told to "take" this Kingdom for themselves. But to "betray" in the Greek is to "hand over" -- to give something over to others. So here is the invitation, here is the precious Gift on offer: do we take and seize it and distribute it among ourselves, the many members, as He has commanded? Or do we give it away, handing it over to those who cannot and will not love it, to His enemy? It's an important way to look at the language in this text, because we can think of our lives as gifts as well, our talents and capabilities, and think of them the same way. God offers us all of these things, and invites us to "take and distribute." This is what a gift is for. In this sense, a true self-esteem extends from the gifts He offers. It all depends on what we really want, what we fervently desire. We make the choice. Do we do as He commands, or do we just give it all away to those who couldn't care a thing about it, who simply wish to destroy? How do we best live our lives in remembrance of Him?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' Then he will show you a large furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

- Luke 21:37-Luke 22:13

In the recent readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple,
and faced the challenges of the leadership. He has also returned a few
challenges of His own. He speaks to the leadership, His disciples, and
also the public. (See readings from last Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).
In Friday's reading, Jesus began to speak about the destruction of the
temple in Jerusalem, and how they are to endure what is to come, and on Saturday we read His teachings on both the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, when He will return. In yesterday's reading, He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the
trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves
that summer is now near. So, you also, when you see these things
happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to
you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take
place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you
unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on
the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you
may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of Man."

And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went
out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning
all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him. My study bible tells us: "Olivet is the Mount of Olives, a hill on the east side of Jerusalem where pilgrims stayed when the city was overcrowded during festivals such as the Passover."

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. My study bible says that these two feasts were distinct but largely overlapping -- so they could be identified as one.

And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him,
for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed
Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and
conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him
to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he
promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of
the multitude. My study bible notes: "That the religious leaders feared the people means the populace at large favored charismatic figures such as Jesus. Therefore, there is need for treachery, night arrest, and quick trial."

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. A note tells us that "the Passover lambs were ritually slaughtered about noon on the first Day of Unleavened Bread, roasted in the afternoon, and eaten that evening -- marking the beginning of the Passover Festival. Unleavened bread was eaten in remembrance of the urgent Exodus from Egypt, in which there was not time for the bread to rise."

And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us,
that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to
prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city,
a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.
Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you,
"Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My
disciples?"' Then he will show you a large furnished upper room; there
make ready." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and
they prepared the Passover. This scene given us in Luke reminds us of the earlier similar teachings of Jesus, in which two of His disciples were told where they would find a donkey's colt for Him to ride on, as He made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

There are many elements in today's reading that we might call "elemental" to the Gospels, as they are hints of phenomena that surface again and again, giving us glimmers and reminders of events in common. There's the prescience of Jesus on display again, as noted above. First, before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, He told two disciples they would meet a man who would give them the colt for Him to ride upon into Jerusalem. Today, there's the particular exactitude again of the particular phrase they are to say to the man they will meet, and the particular room to make ready for the Passover. These elements mirror and reflect one another, and they cause us to reflect. Somehow the events and their exactitude, their precise elements described and foretold by Jesus give us a hint about what is happening here, and especially their importance. We don't often see this side of Jesus, but it does occur and it teaches us something about Him, as well. It's another quality of His holiness, although not used as often in His public ministry as powers of healing, or feeding, and casting out demons, and teaching; it's something shared with His apostles who are "sent" on these specific missions. There's another familiar element in Luke and that is the fear of the leadership for the people. Tellingly, Luke doesn't really give us a reason why Judas goes to the authorities, except to say that there is a spiritual battle going on here. His betrayal of Christ is meant to teach us something about that -- and Luke's Gospel has just told us of Jesus' warnings of future betrayals and persecutions to His followers. And there is His daily teaching of the people, who flock to hear Him, and His exchanges with the leadership. He stays with the pilgrims on Olivet, a sojourner in Jerusalem. The Passover teaches us something, the Feast of Unleavened Bread reminding us of Exodus. Jesus will be our Passover Lamb, our sacrifice in His voluntary mission to us, and remains so for us today. His "Exodus" is imminent and will come at the end of this Passion Week. ("Exodus" is the word used in Greek as He discussed what was to happen in Jerusalem with Elijah and Moses at the Transfiguration). All of these various elements happen in a repeated pattern, so that we are reminded, we remember, and we reflect. Over and over again, we get glimmerings of spiritual truths for our understanding, so that we understand what Jesus is about, what His holiness means, what He offers us, and His fulfillment of the spiritual history of Israel, as well as His example to us all. The familiarity of elements teaches us what holiness is, and serves as a model for the future. He cares for His disciples. He takes care of every need appropriate to His duties, including making sure the Passover is properly cared for, the place where they are to meet all arranged. The elements are set for what is necessary and what is to come, and especially the Last Supper at which He will introduce yet another remembrance and repetition from His ministry, something central (and truly "elemental" in a most phenomenal way) which we are told to repeat in the fullness of what is to come, which we will read about in tomorrow's lectionary reading. The elements mix and tumble, even as elements in our own lives mix and tumble, of good and bad, high and low, exaltation and betrayal. But Jesus is the pivot, the Teacher, the One around whom all things revolve. What does His remembrance teach you today?

Monday, June 24, 2013

Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So, you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

- Luke 21:29-36

In current readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and teaches daily in the temple. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple,
and faced the challenges of the leadership. He has also returned a few
challenges of His own. He speaks to the leadership, His disciples, and
also the public. (See readings from last Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). In Friday's reading, Jesus began to speak about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, and how they are to endure what is to come (see By your patience possess your souls). In Saturday's reading, Jesus taught: "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not
those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe
to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those
days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this
people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away
captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and
on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves
roaring, men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of
those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to
happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the
trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves
that summer is now near. So, you also, when you see these things
happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to
you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take
place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means
pass away." Elsewhere in the Gospels and in Old Testament Scripture, the fig tree is a symbol for Israel. Perhaps the budding of the tree is a sign of the fullness of this time of Israel (in yesterday's reading, Jesus spoke of the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles). Of the prediction regarding "this generation" my study bible tells us, "This difficult verse may be interpreted in two ways: (1) this generation refers to Jesus' contemporaries and all things pertain to the capture of Jerusalem; or (2) this generation is the new Christian generation and all things include the return of Christ. The later is the preferred interpretation of the Church Fathers." Regarding Jesus' teaching that "heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away," we recall that in Saturday's reading, Jesus spoke of the powers of heaven being shaken, and we quoted from St. Peter's Second Epistle regarding the heavenly bodies or elements that will be dissolved in great heat.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you
unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on
the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you
may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of Man." Let's observe the things that take us away from our understanding and awareness: a kind of loss of consciousness into the whirl of life, a loss of proper boundaries, a lack of care about how we conduct ourselves; and that He includes also the burdens of the cares of life as well in this place of forgetfulness of who we are and what we are to be about. My study bible says, "Jesus concludes His discourse with a final admonition to vigilance in the face of the unpredictable time of His return."

So how do we await Christ's return? Most of all, there seems to be an awareness He teaches us about that has to do with our "getting lost" into things that take us away from our consciousness of His presence to us, and of the quality of His imminent return. The things that take us away from this awareness are the things that He warns us about. Dissipation, and drunkenness, and also being overburdened by the cares of life: all of these things take us away from our conscious awareness of His presence to us, and His promise of return. When we remember what we are to be about, we remember most of all His words, His teachings. These are the things that, even if all the elements of life should dissolve before us, if "heaven and earth" should "pass away" (and we are promised that they will!), still remain. His words still remain. In Saturday's reading, we spoke of the essential understanding that our reality includes our inner lives, not merely the outer, and that Scripture hints to us that these are the things that will remain when all else dissolves or passes away. So our awareness of His word to us, His presence to us, always remains the one constant we can rely on, the thing around which we can build our lives. It is the things that take us away from this that lead us into a place of forgetfulness of who we are and what we must be about: a life of dissipation, a kind of heedless running from this thing to that, drunkenness and all that may imply in our modern context, and also a loss of consciousness into the things that burden us with cares, an over-anxiety about life which He's also warned us against (see here and here). In a modern society, we seem to go to both extremes; perhaps the extreme focus on "success" and all that might mean lead also to problems in the opposite direction. Jesus therefore advocates the true median. He Himself is the true pivot around which our lives need to revolve in order to remain in a place of real balance, awareness, and uprightness -- the place of the narrow gate. His words keep us in the place of awareness of a truth that runs deeper than everything else we know, and all else we may experience. They keep us in the place of what is truly real, and of what we truly need. When you feel overburdened, overanxious, or when the temptation to a life of a kind of hedonism that takes you away from yourself becomes great, think about His words and what He teaches us today. He's the real place we need to be, and His Kingdom is in the center of our hearts, the place we need to return for true awareness of ourselves and of our lives. As Jesus advises, let us be reminded that prayer may be the quickest way we can get there -- the way to "remember God." He's the place of reconciliation, and balance, the right middle way, the true center.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

- Luke 21:20-28

In current readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and teaches daily in the temple. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple, and faced the challenges of the leadership. He has also returned a few challenges of His own. He speaks to the leadership, His disciples, and also the public. (See readings from Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). In yesterday's reading, Luke told us that as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful
stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days
will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall
not be thrown down." So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will
these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are
about to take place?" And He said: "Take heed that you not be
deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and 'The
time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you
hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must
come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places,
and famines, and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and
great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay
their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the
synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for
My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for
testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate
beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and
wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or
resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives
and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be
hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be
lost. By your patience possess your souls."

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not
those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe
to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those
days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this
people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away
captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." My study bible says this is "a prediction of the siege and capture of Jerusalem by Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian, in A.D. 70. Damage included the total destruction of the temple." Of the prediction regarding "all things which are written" that may be fulfilled, my study bible cites Daniel 9:24-27. Regarding the fulfillment of "the times of the Gentiles" there is also a reference to the prophecy of Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 12:7). Thus, Christ's mission into the world, and this prophecy regarding what is to come in Jerusalem, is never separate from the history of Jewish spirituality. On the contrary, it is a fulfillment, as Christ has taught, of the Law and the Prophets.

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and
on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves
roaring, men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of
those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to
happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws
near." Of this, my study bible tells us, "Cosmic as well as historical upheavals will precede the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. The expectation of Christ's return sums up the Christian hope and constitutes an important doctrine of the Church."

One passage cited in my study bible regarding the end of the earth and the time when Christ returns is from Peter's Second Epistle (2 Peter 3:10). This is a very interesting passage, because in the Greek what it tells us is that while the elements we know may be dissolved (with great heat or fire) what actually happens is a revelation or discovery of all that truly is, including all the "works" of the world. In other words, Christ's return assures us of a deeper reality exposed, a true reality that includes hearts and minds, in which time doesn't function the way we understand it now. This is to be a revelation of what actually is the full state of the world, in Christ's terms. Prophecy understood in a similar vein tells us of the revelation of works through events that unfold as a result of the failure to acknowledge the full reality of God, and the presence of God's kingdom, even in this world. Jesus has lamented over Jerusalem, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things
that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For
days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment
around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you,
and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your
visitation." And, linking once again with the fullness of the history of Israel, today's lectionary also includes 1 Samuel 4:1-11, a time when another prophecy of destruction was fulfilled because of the failure to know "the things that make for your peace." If we combine a look at the prophecies and their fulfillment, together with the understanding of the scenarios we're given of the end of the age, what we have is a depth of reality that includes all our "works," our choices -- the things we think are hidden but are not really so. Our hidden choices work out into our own daily individual lives, just as on a grand cosmic scale beyond our understanding, so all "works" are to be exposed as the fabric of what truly is in this world. When we consider the Kingdom to be something ephemeral, something we simply can't see and feel and know, and ignore its presence and relationship to our own internal lives, then we fail to include all of reality. We fail to understand, really, what works for our peace -- and the depth of the meaning of the words "your peace." Our peace is made up of much more than a mask or bandage covering up wounds or injustice, more than a sword that demands silence. Our peace, on the contrary, is made up of the things of God, heeding the prophecy that comes from the presence of the Spirit, the words of Christ regarding righteousness and healing. When we fail to acknowledge the full truth of this reality, we are blind to all that is, we fail to know what truly is. The true fabric of reality is far more than what we see and feel around us, but requires a depth of understanding and a respect for that spiritual truth. Let us remember that our inner worlds are as essential to us as the outer; our hearts and minds and souls are the place of this Kingdom and our capacity to bear it into the world -- and that so much depends on our wisdom to do this, and our failure to do so.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down." So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."

Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines, and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls."

- Luke 21:5-19

In recent readings, Jesus is teaching daily in Jerusalem. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple, and faced the challenges of the leadership (see readings from Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). Yesterday, He continued before the leadership and and the people, posing in counterpoint a question of His own: And He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'
"Therefore David calls Him 'LORD'; how is He then his Son?" Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,
"Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love
greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the
best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense
make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said,
"Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for
all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she
out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful
stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days
will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall
not be thrown down." My study bible tells us that "in Luke, the discourse of Christ on the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age occurs in the temple area and is addressed to the public. The Lord's warnings about the future are intended to alert people to live righteously in the present." It's very interesting how often "stones" come to be mentioned here during Holy Week in Jerusalem. (See the readings for last Thursday, Friday and Monday.) As we've noted in the earlier reading, this prophecy would be fulfilled in A.D. 70 during the Siege of Jerusalem, when soldiers believed there to be gold between the stones of the temple.

So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And
what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"
And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived." My study bible says, "Not to be deceived is the first caution Christians ought to heed when people talk about the signs of the end."

"For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and 'The time has
drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars
and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass
first, but the end will not come immediately." Then He
said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and
famines, and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great
signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their
hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and
prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's
sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony." My study bible points out that Jesus tells us "persecutions against Christians will provide them with opportunities to give testimony to their faith." Jesus' warnings about what was to come in Jerusalem had their effect on the early Christian community there, and they were prepared for what was to come. But this is also an occasion for His prediction of persecutions, and the teaching, as my study bible points out, that this is an opportunity for testimony.

"Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what
you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your
adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be
betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they
will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My
name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your
patience possess your souls." My study bible tells us that "not a hair of your head shall be lost" is an ancient expression meaning that not even death can harm a soul that is in God's hands. It adds, "Endurance assures a place for us in the kingdom of God."

If we look closely at what Jesus says today, it's a prediction of very grim circumstances, of great violence, of destruction and suffering and death. There's also tremendous betrayal. Earlier (last Friday), Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things
that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For
days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment
around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you,
and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your
visitation." It's a time of reckoning for mistakes made, a kind of consequence of false decisions and ideals, a refusal to see and to accept a reality that is true and present, a way to go forward that requires a rethinking of present understanding. In our lives, we can also see consequences for similar behavior: a refusal to recognize what is coming, the consequences of our actions, the suffering caused by our own blindness and inability to accept a reality we don't want to see. But in the midst of this dire picture, there's the glimmer of light that Jesus has for us. He speaks of decisions by leadership that lead to a bad situation for all. He speaks of betrayals and persecutions. In this picture there is also the added truth of our world that the innocent suffer through no fault of their own, and in this He addresses His followers, with the full understanding that all things are in the hands of God. When they are suffering and persecuted and betrayed, Jesus tells them they must look at things in a certain way -- and that way is to understand they are being offered an opportunity for testimony. The one thing they must be resolved beforehand to do is not to meditate on what they will answer! The answer Jesus gives here, throughout all this suffering and betrayal and persecution that is to come, is total reliance on God: "I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your
adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist." He doesn't promise them a wonderful, peaceful, "perfect" kind of life in worldly terms. What He does promise is a heroic life, one that is full of decisions about the priority of what they bear within themselves in the world, the Kingdom that is within them, the Spirit they bear into the world whose words and testimony must be heard. Lest we forget, the word in Greek for testimony or witness is μαρτύριον/martyrion -- the root of our word, martyr. Throughout His time in Jerusalem, Jesus has provided examples of the wisdom that comes from God in His own answers and response to the authorities. He promises that we too will be provided with a "mouth and wisdom" from Him. In all aspects of betrayal or suffering, let us remember His promises to His flock here in Jerusalem, and the certainties of the suffering and death (for some) that were to come. In all things, He promises, each circumstance of persecution or betrayal or affliction becomes an opportunity for testimony, and an endurance through which we possess our own souls. We know what they went through. Let us remember our dependence on Him, and every occasion that may be an opportunity for a living witness to His Spirit, for His name's sake. We don't know beforehand what we "should" do; let us wait upon the "mouth and wisdom" He offers. Even a cup of water to one who needs it might just be an act of witness, a bearing of His kingdom into the world. And there will also be times in which Jesus does not speak (later in the week, here in Jerusalem), but this too bears witness to Him. In all occasions, it's up to us to possess our souls, to be a true witness, His Way. By our patience, we live.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

And He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:

'The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

"Therefore David calls Him 'LORD'; how is He then his Son?"

Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

- Luke 20:41-21:4

In recent readings, Jesus is teaching daily in Jerusalem. He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple, and faced the challenges of the leadership (see readings from Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday). In yesterday's reading, some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came
to Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a
man's brother dies, without children, his brother should take his wife
and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers.
And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second
took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and
in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.
Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose
wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are
given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age,
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in
marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and
are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed
in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called
the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, you have
spoken well." But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

And He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Here, Jesus continues His dialogue. We note the deeper challenge, as Jesus pushes back, in some sense, with His words. It is a challenge to their notions of authority, and of the Christ -- an assertion of His identity. My study bible tells us that in this quotation from Psalm 110, "the first reference to LORD applies to God the Father, the second to Christ -- whom David, the writer of this Psalm, calls my Lord."

"Therefore David calls Him 'LORD'; how is He then his Son?" My study bible tells us that "the riddle has its solution in that the Messiah is David's Son in His humanity, yet David calls Him Lord on His eternal deity."

Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,
"Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love
greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the
best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense
make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." My study bible says, "These verses criticize the scribes, a professional class of teachers and experts in Mosaic Law, for glorifying in their influential roles while practicing injustice." There's also a jibe at the scribes in Jesus' question about the meaning of the Psalm, and David's words regarding the identity of the Christ. As experts in Scripture and Mosaic Law, they should understand these things. But the greater interpreter is the One who has knowledge that they don't. It's important that we understand the cause of their blindness, and its link to arrogance and their love of place.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said,
"Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for
all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she
out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." A note tells us that a mite is "a Jewish copper coin of the lowest value, like a penny. Yet this sacrificial offering by the poor widow is praised by Christ. The value of a gift derives from the spirit in which it is given. A gift that seeks recognition loses spiritual value; a gift made from the heart gains immense value." We understand the wealth she has given, and that this kind of generosity can come only from love. The true recognition of the heart is not a problem -- the problem is the gift given purely for purposes of recognition alone.

I think it's important that we understand a little more about this widow. We can read into her circumstances here: without support, she is on the edges of the society. She has no social standing, and no great capacity for self-support. Certainly she has no social support from any sources but whatever family she may rely on. Jesus' description of her poverty is clear: the two mites are all the livelihood she had. But what we conclude from such a generous gift is her love, her great love of God. She's not counting the pennies. She's giving what she has. Hidden in plain sight here is also her dependence on God, which goes along with her love. Truly, for her, God is the Bridegroom -- and our Bridegroom, Christ, knows her and knows her love; thereby He also knows her heart. We get a glimpse of what Christ knows and loves, the hearts He understands, and also of the things of which He disapproves. People like this widow are harmed by leadership that is too arrogant to serve, that serves its own selfish interest: that we can read in the criticism of the scribes. His emphasis on the scribes' "greater condemnation" also tells us something about how He views the hearts and minds of those around Himself. They are responsible for bringing God to people like this widow, and yet all they think about are themselves. Their lives are masks of hypocrisy, and they lack all compassion. There is no depth of respect for truth, nor for justice. Perhaps that's the true great discrepancy we see here. Love is what the widow has in abundance, and love is what is lacking in the scribes as Jesus describes them. In the conflicts Jesus has with the leadership, we can see a basic pattern which, overall, can be contained in His criticism of their lack of love for their flock -- a lack of compassion -- and thereby also a lack of real love for God. He's told His own disciples that if they love Him, they will keep His commandments. He told St. Peter, "Feed my sheep." Thereby we understand our own connection with the entire spiritual history of Israel. It would be a grave mistake to take these conflicts that Jesus has with the leadership here in the Gospels and fail to apply the lessons to ourselves. There will always be a struggle, in my opinion, between those who simply seek position for themselves and a real love for God. All the things that we see Jesus criticize: arrogance, lack of humility, lack of real service, and lack of love and compassion, are things that will be with us until His return. They are warnings to each one of us about our own state of the heart, our own spiritual places. This widow who gives all she has remains a model for us: not only in her humility but especially in her love. The things the scribes are criticized for remain things to watch out for in our time, among ourselves. Let's not forget Jesus' words about the blind leading the blind, they apply to us. Let's not forget, above all, that we're to practice spotting the plank in our own eye before we're capable of removing the splinter for someone else. Throughout the history of the Church, saints have been persecuted and martyred even at the hands of our own. Let us not forget that we are to be the friends of the Bridegroom, and therefore these stories here are so that we uphold His example, and be true friends, and look to ourselves to do so. In Jesus' suffering at the end of this Holy Week, we will witness His tremendous love for us. We see His love for this poor widow, and understand His mind and heart touches and reads us all. Let us return that love as He asks of us.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife."

Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, you have spoken well." But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

- Luke 20:27-40

In yesterday's reading, after Jesus had told a parable against the leadership, we read that the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands
on Him, but they feared the people--for they knew He had spoken this
parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended
to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to
deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. Then they
asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and
You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in
truth: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But He
perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? Show
Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They
answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of
the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came
to Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a
man's brother dies, without children, his brother should take his wife
and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers.
And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second
took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and
in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.
Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose
wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." My study bible says that the Sadducees are the high priestly and landowning class which controlled the temple and the Jewish Council. It says, "In a striking difference with the Pharisees, the Sadducees rejected the resurrection of the dead and they came to Christ to dispute it."

Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are
given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age,
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in
marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and
are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed
in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called
the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to
Him." Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, you have
spoken well." But after that they dared not question Him anymore. My study bible tells us that Jesus' answer is "concise and irrefutable. Since God is not the God of the dead but of the living, both those who are physically alive and those who are deceased, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all live to Him."

Jesus' answer is a startling one, and remains so, if only because He tells us something about the age to come, and the difference between the world we live in and the one we await. There's a clear difference between values and ways of seeing and relating in this age and in that one. We ourselves are transformed; even the nature of our most basic relationships are changed. There is no marriage. The children of the age to come, those who are worthy of that life -- and in the language this is presented as an attainment to something wonderful -- are equal to the angels and children of God. Immortality is a key to this change: to be equal to angels and children of God, not to be given in marriage at all, is linked to this timeless, deathless state. But there is more to it, because God has already declared, even to us who live in this world, as was declared to Moses, that God is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, immortality -- or life in abundance, as we may call it -- lives already. We may think of the age to come as precisely that, in our terms, an age to come in which we may participate. But that is because we live in time and our lives are regulated by it. Time gives us time to repent and to change, to come to God, to become "like God" and children of God in this pattern in which we grow and learn and love through Christ, participating in the Kingdom in faith. But the "age to come" is of a different nature altogether, in which time does not exist as we know it. "Life in abundance" then, in its true nature connotes this immortal time, this eternal time, in which everything is always present. "Life in abundance" is that life in which all live to Him, which "breaks through" into our world in the form of Christ, and in revelation -- for example, in the burning bush, in which this God of the living, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, breaks through into our world, into time, and gives us a glimpse of God's reality, the one in which all life is contained, including our lives in the age to come. To have life in abundance is to attain this place where everything is changed, where the abundance of life adds to us a nature that renders us like angels, a state of being children of God, a life ageless and timeless, life eternal, in which there is no death. This is one of the clearest glimpses Jesus gives us of what this age to come is like, what the children of resurrection will experience. Jesus' Transfiguration was another glimpse, as He stood on the mountain speaking with Moses and Elijah. Let's not forget that while we may experience this, and it is told to us as the age to come, it is a living reality in the communion of saints and in the liturgy which we celebrate even with the angels in heaven. This age to come is present and "breaks through" in vivid revelation recorded in Scripture, in the lives of the saints, in images such as the burning bush. The Kingdom is within us and among us, even as we await its fullness. Prayer intersects us in the communion of all the living, of all those who live to Him and worship. Let us remember what we call upon when we put our faith in prayer -- and what the tremendous fullness of life in abundance really means.

All work that appears on this blog is original and under copyright protection of the author, including photos, texts and any other form of expression, unless otherwise indicated. Please do not reproduce in any form without attribution and link.